Survivors help CARDV ‘Light the Night’

Walk aims to spread awareness, honor clients

Participants make their way around the Missouri School for the Deaf track during CARDV's first Light the Night event on Friday. The organization's goal was to have 1,044 miles logged — one for each client served in 2011.
Photo by Katherine Cummins.

Carol Charlton walked for herself and her children. Chassity Nevels walked for herself and her sister. Darlene Waybright walked for herself and her clients.

A number of the participants at CARDV’s Light The Night — an event designed to bring awareness to sexual and domestic violence and show support for those who have experienced them — Friday had multiple and very personal reasons for logging in a mile or five in honor of the 1,044 clients served by the organization in 2011.

“I’m walking because my children and I were abused,” said Charlton, whose second husband, Jim Charlton, also came out and whose granddaughter, Courtney Harrison works at the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence. “There were five of us, so I’m trying to walk five miles.

“It’s important because it makes people aware of what’s going on. Many people aren’t aware of what’s going on behind people’s backs.”